Marriott's Frenchman's Cove Shows Its "Spirit to Serve" With Local Homeless Shelter Renovation

November
24,2009

ST. THOMAS, U.S.V.I. - November 24, 2009 - Marriott's Frenchman's Cove, a Marriott Vacation Club resort, is pleased to have concluded the renovation of Bethlehem House Shelter for the Homeless' outdoor public facility in downtown Charlotte Amalie.

What began as a Marriott "Spirit to Serve" day project with participation from both Marriott's Frenchman's Cove and Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort, resulted in the complete renovation of the non-profit organization's outdoor public space allowing staff and residents to enjoy meals, meetings and special events together in the brand new space.

"The work completed by Marriott's Frenchman's Cove will help give this building a new life," said Michael Akin, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands. "We are truly thankful for all of the people that volunteered their time and resources to support the homeless in our community."

Bethlehem House Shelter for the Homeless is a ministry of Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands and focuses on protecting struggling families from the perils of homelessness. With 40 beds, Bethlehem House provides two hot meals daily, counseling, referrals, employment assistance and financial guidance for all of its residents.

After the area was cleaned out and the rotting roof was removed during the "Spirit to Serve" day, Marriott's Frenchman's Cove took additional steps to fully restore Bethlehem House's outdoor public space to full working order. The resort engaged their local contractors who sponsored the effort through donated materials and labor and also reached out to My Brother's Workshop, a non-profit program which provides vocational training and career guidance for disadvantaged youths ages 16 to 24. With the combined efforts, not only did Bethlehem House benefit, but the participants of My Brother's Workshop were able to engage with contractors and have on-the-job training in many areas of construction.

"The opportunity for these young men to work with the contractors from Marriott's Frenchman's Cove has been nothing less than life changing," said Scott Bradley, project director of My Brother's Workshop. "They have not only benefitted from the knowledge and skill that these contractors shared with them, but by simply working side by side with professional role models."

The group completed a multitude of tasks including: installing a new roof; lighting and ceiling fans; completing a new paint job; laying new flooring/carpet; and landscaping the area. The team was made up of Associates from Marriott's Frenchman's Cove, My Brother's Workshop participants and Marriott contractors and suppliers including MSI Building Supplies, Roy's Roofing and Construction, Riley Electric, Raider Construction, Plant Depot and First Resort Painting.

The culmination of this fantastic effort will be enjoyed during a special Thanksgiving celebration in the new facility on November 26, hosted by Catholic Charities of The Virgin Islands for Bethlehem House's local residents and the community.

Situated on 13 waterfront acres overlooking scenic Pacquereau Bay, Marriott's Frenchman's Cove currently boasts 124 two- and three-bedroom villas ranging from 1,172 to 1,572 square feet and will offer a proposed total of 220 villas upon build-out. Each villa features stunning water views and amenities including a fully-equipped kitchen with granite counters and stainless steel appliances, spacious living and dining areas, a washer and dryer, multiple flat-panel televisions and DVD players, and two balconies.

# # #Editors Note: - Media are welcome to attend the Thanksgiving Day event to be held at Bethlehem House Shelter for the Homeless beginning at 11:30 a.m. on November 26, 2009. Marriott's Frenchman's Cove general manager, Pieter Knot and Governor de Jongh will be in attendance and available for comments.- Images available upon request. Please contact Amy Immerfall amy.immerfall@vacationclub.com.

About Marriott Vacation ClubMarriott Vacation Club is the recognized worldwide leader in vacation ownership with a program highly regarded for its quality and unique flexibility. Celebrating 25 years of providing unforgettable vacations, Marriott became the first branded hospitality company by nearly a decade to enter the timeshare industry in 1984. Marriott Vacation Club continues to expand with a diverse portfolio of nearly 11,000 timeshare resort villas throughout the U.S., Caribbean, Europe and Asia. Today, nearly 400,000 Owner families around the globe own their vacations "the Marriott way," offering options to exchange weeks with priority within the Marriott Vacation Club portfolio or within Interval International's global system of more than 2,400 resorts in over 75 countries, trade their week(s) for Marriott Rewards points, or rent their week(s). For more information, please visit www.marriottvacationclub.com. For nightly rentals, please visit www.marriott.com. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/MarriottVacClub.

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November 24, 2009 | Marriott's Frenchman's Cove Shows Its "Spirit to Serve" With Local Homeless Shelter RenovationMarriott's Frenchman's Cove, a Marriott Vacation Club resort, is pleased to have concluded the renovation of Bethlehem House Shelter for the Homeless' outdoor public facility in downtown Charlotte Amalie.